Please help our wounded paralyzed and amputee Veterans and ill or injured civilians by removing the administrative barriers placed by CMS on the reimbursement of iBOT and other high-tech mobility devices.

An iBOT is the only “personal mobility device” that provides a true bridge between immobility and mobility, between dependency and self-sufficiency, between limitations and freedom. Using Segway-style gyroscopic technology iBOTs climb stairs and perhaps most importantly, transformer-like, balances on two wheels, seating the user at eye level with a six foot adult! That provides both greater independence in daily life functions but most important, it restores a large measure of equality.

iBOTs were made too costly by government rules, First the FDA that classified it as a Class 3 Medical Device when other countries classify it as a Class 1 device (after 10 years CMS finally in 2013 reclassified it to a Class 2 device) and the unwillingness of CMS to recognize the value of giving our disabled veterans their eye to eye equality with a standing adult and stair climbing independence made it nearly impossible for the majority of mobility challenged people to afford the iBOT.

The old America’s Huey 091 Foundation (now called the Independence Corps) (a 501(c)(3) organization) provided 23 iBOTS to Veterans in the same time period the VA provided only 63. Help us help our wounded disabled veterans. Our Vets deserve much more then we are doing as a nation. Like President Reagan said, “Tear down that wall!” But now we mean the wall to greater Independence.

Our veterans signed a blank check when they enlisted. An iBOT is a small price to begin to repay our wounded disabled veterans who sacrificed so much for our country, please help. Tell the FDA and CMS to amend their position on the iBOT.